i have a 2000 honda civic sedan that recently died on me and my fiance?We were driving to work , half ways there the car started to make a rattling noise like we ran over a box or something so we taught we did , then the car just jolted and the rattling got louder , so we pulled off the freeway and on the first lights the car died out , tried turning it on but it didnt til we pumped the gas for it to stay on so we got it started , pulled into a gas station and died again this time not turning on for a while and started it again and it'll stay on but at a really low idle and lots of shaking , any help on diagnosis of the problem , plus we only had the car for a month

 

Did it ever sound like loose coins bouncing around? Or is it more like a steady banging?

Cause it sounds like either your timing belt jumped or you have a spun rod bearing. Either way it doesnt sound good

 

post a video if you can... its hard to tell by your description

 

Starting it to make a video would only make things worse. Especially if it can be fixed while keeping the same motor. OP, do visual inspection. Dont think rod knocking would cause the car to jerk around and shut off. Itll jus rattle louder and louder.. could be wrong though! Lol

 

Catastrophic engine failure. If it's a sohc you can prob find a replacment for around 2-3 hundred $.

Sorry for your luck bro but wise man say it never rain every day.

How many miles on the motor did you stay current on oil change and regular maint? Usually these honda motors will go for ever if kept stock and regular maint.

 

I don't think a rod bearing would make it idle low unless the motor was seizing, sounds like a dead cylinder or 2 to me I'd start with basics make sure injectors are plugged in and plug wires are plugged in check for spark, my guess would be timing belt jumped or something killed spark or fuel, the sometimes starting sometimes not sounds almost sounds like a electronic or driver problem, maybe dizzy came apart?? Post more info when you get a chance

 

Check your oil. If you have little to no oil, then you have rod knock and a seized up motor..let us know!
As mike said, single cams can be had for cheap. Depending how much money you want to throw at it, B18 ls swaps can be had for cheeeeappp

 

Whatever it may be the worst part is he only had it for a month.

Like others said SOHC motors are easily found and cheap, but to have the car for such little time and have to even think about needing a motor sucks. I've been there though.

Let us know how it goes

 

Ive beem there to. 2 weeks after buying my integra the clutch dusted, then 2 weeks after that I spun a rod bearing. 2 transmissions and a 2nd engine later and im now building my 3rd engine myself (I dont trust anything anyone builds now)

 

Headgasket could have cracked between two cylinders and they would then be splitting compression. This happened to me before.



If that is the case theres two ways to find out. Compression test each cylinder or pull the head. Also manually tdc your motor to see if the timing is still spot on. If not the belt skipped timing

 

DO NOT try and start the engine again, until you do some testing/inspections.

Start with the timing belt, has it skipped a tooth?

Check oil level.

Check main grounds.

As mentioned, check injector plugs. and all electrical plugs in engine bay.

Pull distributor cap and inspect inside of cap and the rotor. 94